2017 HSV GTSR W1 taps into Ferrari technology

THE 2017 HSV GTSR W1 has a little bit of Ferrari technology within its 474kW V8-powered body.

The fastest, most powerful and most expensive car to ever be produced in Australia will use carbonfibre parts from the same supplier that delivers components to Ferrari.

Based in Bologna, the carbon department of BMC Air Filters was chosen because of its high quality material and experience in producing carbonfibre components.

On the HSV GTSR W1, carbonfibre is used on the top surface of the rear wing, the new fake air vent on the front guards and for the engine’s air intake hidden beneath the bonnet.

While the exterior applications are purely aesthetic, the air intake required something more exotic given the engineering requirements. Space was limited, but engineers needed a certain amount of strength and heat resistance, but with material that was only 2.5mm thick.

Design chief Julian Quincey said using carbon had its challenges to ensure it met the strict heat and UV requirements.

“Carbonfibre is one of those frustrating bits of technologies that you see just about anywhere … but the reality of actually trying to deliver something that will maintain its shape, remain colourfast under the UV conditions we have here in Australia is extremely difficult,” he said.

Quincey said various suppliers offered to produce the carbonfibre parts but testing showed they were not doing the job.

“We eventually ended up with the company that supply Ferrari,” he said. “We’ve tested the product but we also know that Ferrari are not going to be selecting second-rate suppliers.”

He admitted it was “not cheap”, but that paying extra for a higher quality products would alleviate warranty issues down the track.

“We wanted to do it properly … we believe we’ve got a product that will stand up to sustained use.”

There were other supercars that provided inspiration for the HSV GTSR W1.

The quilted seats, for example, were inspired by those available in the Lamborghini Aventador and Aston Martin Vanquish.

And the plastic front guards came about when HSV managing director Tim Jackson noticed plastic guards on his wife’s BMW, something that “started the conversation” with engineers and designers.

“The guys have found a really good solution,” said Jackson.

Quincey designed a scale model with the wider, more sculpted guards and admitted he “thought it’d get knocked back” due to the cost of producing the parts.

He rates them as one of the best bits on the GTSR.

“They’re not actually that much wider … but there’s a beautiful Coke bottle shape … it looks incredibly muscular, aggressive.”